Today, Steve Bannon, the Trump administration’s former chief strategist, will join Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini in Rome at a

Photo: Tony Gentile/Reuters

Today, Steve Bannon, the Trump administration’s former chief strategist, will join Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini in Rome at a rally for the populist Brotherhood of Italy (PdL) party.

Since Mr Bannon left the White House, he has demonstrated support for nationalist, right-wing movements all throughout Europe in pursuit of global populism to minimise immigration, free trade agreements and military interventionism. Specifically in Italy, his work has included closely consulting a right-wing Catholic leadership institute to instil in the church a more politically-oriented societal role.

Expect thousands of nationalist Italians to turn out at the rally, frustrated by a swelling migration crisis that has garnered populist-leaning voters and strained Italy’s relations with the European Union. A solidified partnership between Mr Bannon and Mr Salvini could pose a nuisance to European allies, especially if formalised political strategies in Italy spread to other budding populist movements throughout the continent. The more support Mr Salvini and his counterparts in populist-trending countries preparing for elections, like Sweden, receive, the more Mr Bannon will be able to galvanise his involvement in the populist movement abroad.

Wake up smarter with an assessment of the stories that will make headlines in the next 24 hours. Download The Daily Brief.